The Importance of Interns’ Rights

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. While this provides protections for employees and job applicants, it has left unpaid interns at risk and with no legal remedy. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that will provide interns in the federal government protection from harassment and discrimination. Other bills have been proposed that would extend protections to interns across the private sector; such proposals highlight the need for protections of all unpaid interns, not just those in the federal government. The majority of interns are women and such internships are often a necessity to enter into a particular career path. Attention has also been called to wage theft and misclassification of employees as interns.

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This is provided as a guide only, and not legal advice. Please contact our firm at 1-800-578-4357 for a no-charge legal consultation for sex harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination.